French newspaper says Sarkozy might have wed Bruni

By Crispian Balmer

PARIS (Reuters) - A French newspaper reported on Monday that President Nicolas Sarkozy might have married his new girlfriend Carla Bruni last week, but the mother of the former Italian supermodel said she was unaware of any secret nuptials.

Regional daily l'Est Republicain quoted a source close to someone who "attended the ceremony" as saying that Sarkozy and Bruni married last Thursday at the Elysee presidential palace.

"Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni reportedly got married on Thursday at the Elysee," the paper said on its website.

Sarkozy's press office declined to comment on the report and Bruni's mother told Reuters she had not heard of any wedding.

"I don't know, I am not aware of anything. I have just seen Carla and she didn't mention anything," said Marisa Bruni, speaking by telephone.

"It could be, anything is possible. Maybe they got married without inviting anyone, but I think that if that was the case the Elysee would have made an announcement," she added.

Marisa Bruni met Sarkozy when he visited Italy in December and she told reporters earlier this month that the French president had proposed to her daughter.

Sarkozy, who divorced his second wife in October, told a news conference last week that his relationship with Bruni was "serious", but declined to be drawn on a possible wedding date.